Automatic check-row corn-planter.



No. 657,246. Patented Sept. 4, I900. L. J. LINDSAY.

AUTOMATIC CHECK ROW CORN PLANTEB.

[Application filed Apr. 9, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Sept. 4, I900. L. a]. LINDSAY. AUTOMATIC CHECK ROW CORNPLANTER. (Applicationl filed Apr. 9, 1900.

U10 Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 657,246. Patented Sept. 4, I900. L. J. LINDSAY.

AUTOMATIC CHECK ROW CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1900.) (No Model.)

3 SheetsSheet 3.

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LEROY J. LINDSAY, OF SEYMOUR, IOWVA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. T.PHILLIPS, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC CHECK-ROW CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,246, datedSeptember 4, 1900.

. Application filed April 9, 1900. Serial No. 12,076. on an.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY J. LINDSAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Seymour, in the county of \Vayne and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Oheck- Row CornPlanters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the automatic check-row corn-planter shown anddescribed in my applications for patents filed February 15,1900,SerialNo.5,3l2,and February27,1900, Serial No. 6,685; and it consists of theimprovements hereinafter'set forth, pointed outin my claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings to adapt the flexible carriageto be advantageously used for operating the seeddropping mechanism bymeans of a knotted wire.

Figure l is a top view showing the relative positions of all theoperative parts. Fig. 2 is a view of the rear end of the carriage-frameand portion of the seat-support. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the swivelconnection of the rotatable axle with the carriage-frame. Fig. 4 is anenlarged side elevation of the seed-dropping mechanism connected with arunner and a seedbox. Fig. 5 is asectional elevation and detail view ofa seed-conveyer and valve operated by a weight. Fig. 6 isa top view, andFig. '7 a transverse sectional View, of the seeddropping mechanism inthe bottom of the seedbox. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of theoperating-lever adapted to be actuated by a knotted wire for operating aseed-dropping valve in the bottom of a seedbox. Fig. 10 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view of the flexible carriage and operativemechan-.

ism connected therewith. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view on aline in front of the rotatable carriage-axle that has a swiveledconnection with the carriage-frame and illustrates how the runner-frameis pivotally connected with a cross-bar that has pivotal connectionswith the side bars of the flexible carriage-frame.

A and A are the mating sides of a carriageframe. They are made of flatmetal bars and coiled at their rear ends to produce hinge members Aadapting them to be pivotally connected with. a cross bar 13, that isalso coiled at its ends to produce hinge members B in such a manner thatit can be placed on top of the side bars and pivotally connectedtherewith by means of screw-bolts 13, passed through the overlying hingemembers, as shown in Fig. 2, to produce a three-sided flexible frame.

O is a rotatable axle in bearers O thatare swiveled to the side bars ofthe frame by means of plates 0 fixed to the outside faces of the sidebars and extended up through coinciding apertures in the ends of across-bar D, through which the screw-threaded top ends of the bearers Oextend and are pivotally secured thereto by means of nuts and rivetingthe extremities of the bearers on top of the nuts. Collars D interposedbetween the tops of the side bars and the ends of the cross-bar D,retain the bar elevated.

D is the bench or cross-bar of the runnerframe, to which the'front endsof the mating side bars A and A are hinged in such a manner as to allowvertical motion.

F is a bolster and seedbox-support pivotally connected with thecross-bar D and the tongue F by means of a bolt F and a nut on thebottom of the bolt, as clearly shown in Fig. 10.

H and H are mating bars fixed to the crossbar D, that is pivotallyconnected with the swiveled axle-bearer C and hinged to the bolster F attheir front ends as required to allow Vertical motion. A flexibleconnection is thus produced between the carriage-frame and the bolsterthat allows lateral deflection from the line of advance, as required tofacilitate turning about at the end of a field. The downward extensionsof the bars H and H (shown in Fig. 10) are designed to be used asbearers for the rotatable shaft of a marker whenever desired.

J is a seat-support fixed to the cross-bar D, and J 2 is an additionalseat-support pivotally connected with the cross-bar B at the rear end ofthe flexible carriage-frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, or in anysuitable Way that will not interfere with the lateral motion of the sidebars of the carriage-frame and the auxiliary frame composed of themating bars 11 and H the pivoted bar D, and the bolster F, that ispivoted to the cross-bar D K is a rock-shaft mounted in bearers K fixedon top of the pivoted cross-bar D.

K is a hand-lever fixed to the rock-shaft and provided with aspring-actuated pawl to engage a rack K formed on or fixed to one of thebearers K L is a lever fixed to the rock-shaft K. Its long arm isextended forward and adj ustably connected with an arm L that extendsrearward from the pivot 0r bolt F, by means of a link L The short arm ofthe lever is extended rearward.

L is a collar on the rock-shaft K, and L is an arm extending rearwardand adjustably connected with the short arm of the lever L by means of ascrew-bolt m, that extends down through a bearing in the end of the armL and a coinciding bearing fixed to the short arm of the lever L. Acoil-spring m on the bolt and interposed between the said bearingsallows vertical motion of the arm that extends from the collar Lrelative to the short arm of the lever L. A nut m on the lower end ofthe bolt m secures the spring in its place and also serves as a meansfor regulating the tension of the spring.

The ends of the pivoted bolster F are bifurcated and bent upward toextend horizontally in a plane above the rotating shaft F Seedboxes Fare mounted on the bifurcated ends of the bolster and seedconveyingtubes F connected with their bottoms to extend into the heels of therunners F.

N is a lever composed of two mating parts pivoted to the rotatable shaftF and fixed together by means of a block N and rivets to fasten them tothe block. A ratchet-wheel N is fixed to the shaft F and a pawl Npivoted in the top of the lever to engage the ratchet-wheel,- as shownin Figs. 8 and 9. The lower end of the lever is bifurcated for thepassage of a knotted wire that will actuate the lever to impart rotarymotion to the shaft F at regular intervals of time and space as themachine is advanced to drop seeds into the furrows opened by therunners.

A rock-shaft P is mounted on the ends of the bolster F and has arms onits ends that carry direetion pulleys P to retain a knotted wire in linewith the lever N, so that every time a knot in the wire contacts withthe lever it will vibrate it as required to impart motion to the seeddropping mechanism in the bottom of the seedbox. A contractile spring Pfixed to the lever and one of the branches of the bifurcated bolster F,retains the leverN in its normal perpendicular position.

P is a duplex fender fixed to the bolster to aid in retaining a knottedwire on the pulley P and P is a contractile spring that normally retainsthe free end of the latch P in engagement with a catch P fixed to therockshaft as required to retain the pulleys in operative positions. Acord P fixed to the latch and to the drivers seat, as shown in Fig. 1,serves as a means for operating the latch to release the rock-shaft Pand to stop the oper ation of the knotted wire relative to theseeddropping mechanism.

A toothed wheel R, fixed to the shaft F", engages the rotatable disk Runder the bottom R of the seedbox F to impart intermittent rotary motionto the disk as required to bring its seed-cups successively intocoinciding position with an opening in the fixed auxiliary bottom B, soas to allow seeds to drop into the conveyer F.

S is a valve pivoted in the conveyor F in such a manner that seedsdropped from the seedbox will be retained in the conveyer until thevalve is operated. The top of the valve is inclined laterally andadapted to be en= gaged by cams S on the shaft F so that at every halfrevolution of the shaft the valve will be actuated as required to dropseeds from the conveyer into the furrow at the heel of the runner. Anarm S having a weight S on its free end, will by force of gravityautomatically reverse the motion of the valve to close it.

Corresponding seed dropping mechanism is connected with each seedbox andeach end portion of the rotatable shaft F and con veyer F.

Having described the construction, functions, arrangement, andcombination of all the parts, the practical operation and utility of mycomplete invention will beobvious to persons familiar with the art towhich it per tains.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent therefor,is-- 1. A flexible carriage=frame for corn-planters composed of twomating side bars having hinge members at their rear ends and a crossbarhaving hinge members at its ends connected with the said hinge membersof the side bars by means of bolts, and bolts extended through theoverlying hinge members in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

2. Afiexible carriage-frame for corn-plan ters composed of two matingside bars having hinge members at their rear ends and a crossbar havinghinge members at its ends-connected with the said hinge members of theside bars by means of bolts,bolts extended through the overlying hingemembers, axle-bearers swiveled to the mating side bars and a rotatablecarriage-axle in said bearers, arranged and combined in the manner setforth for the purposes stated.

3. In a corn-planter, a flexible carriageframe composed of two matingside bars and a cross-bar having a hinged connection with their rearends, axle-bearers swiveled to the said side bars, a rotatablecarriage-axle in said bearers, a runner-frame and the front ends of saidside bars hinged to the cross-bar of the runner-frame, arranged andcombined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

at. In a corn-planter, a flexible carriageframe composed of two matingside bars and ICC a cross-bar having a hinged connection with their rearends, axle-bearers swiveled to the said side bars, a rotatablecarriage-axle in said bearers, a runner-frame and the front ends of saidside bars hinged to the cross-bar of the runner-frame and cross-barpivotally connected with the tops of said swiveled axlebearers, arrangedand combined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

5. In a corn-planter, a fiexible carriageframe composed of two matingside bars and a cross-bar having a hinged connection with their rearends, axle-bearers swiveled to the said side bars, a rotatablecarriage-axle in said bearers, a runner-frame and the front ends of saidside bars hinged to the cross-bar of the runnerframe,a cross-barpivotally connected with the tops of said swiveled axlebearers, arock-shaft mounted on said pivoted cross-bar, mating bars fixed to thecrossbar at their rear ends and hinged at their front ends to a bolsterand seedbox-support, a bolster and seedbox'support pivoted to thecross-bar of the runner-frame, and means for raising and lowering therunner-frame relative to the flexible carriage-frame, all arranged andcombined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

6. In a corn-planter, a flexible carriageframe hinged at its front endto the cross-bar of a runner-frame, axle-bearers swiveled to the sidebars of the carriage-frame, a crossbar pivoted at its ends to theswiveled axlebearers, a bolster pivoted to the cross-bar of therunner-frame, mating bars fixed at their rear ends to said pivotedcross-bar on the swiveled axlebearers and hinged at their front ends tothe said bolster, a rock-shaft mounted on said pivoted cross-bar, ahandlever fixed to the rock-shaft to project vertically and a secondlever fixed to the rockshaft to extend forward, a coupling-bolt in therunner-frame having an arm extending rearward and a link connecting itwith the front end of said forwardly-extended lever, all arranged andcombined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

7. In a corn-planter, the rock-shaft K, the lever L, the collar L havingan arm L and the rear end and short arm of said lever adj ustablyconnected with the end of said arm in the manner set forth for thepurposes stated.

8. In a corn-planter, a rock-shaft mounted on a flexible carriage andhinged to a runnerframe, a lever fixed to said rock-shaft and' connectedwith the runner-frame and extended rearward from the rock-shaft, acollar on the rock-shaft having an arm extended rearward, a boltconnected with the rear end of said arm and the rear portion of saidlover, a coil-spring in the bolt and means for operating the rock-shaft,arranged and combined in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

9. In a corn-planter, a flexible carriageframe, consisting of two rigidmating side bars and a rigid cross-bar pivotally mounted on their rearends, axle-bearers swiveled -to the side bars of the frame, a cross-barpivotally connected with said axle-bearers, a seatsupport fixed to saidcross-bar, a seat fixed to the top of said support, a second seatsupportfixed to the seat and pivotally connected with the rear cross bar of theflexible frame, arranged and combined as shown and described for thepurposes stated.

10. In a corn-planter, a pivoted bolster having bifurcated ends,seedboxes fixed on'said ends of the bolster, a rotatable shaft havingfixed toothed wheels at its end portions foroperating rotatable disks inseedboxes, a spring-actuated lever pivotally connected with each end ofthe shaft and bifurcated at its lower end, a rock-shaft in bearingsfixed to the bifurcated ends of the pivoted bolster andseedbox-supports, arms on the ends of the rock-shaft, direction-pulleyson the ends of said arms, a spring-actuated latch pivoted to theseedbox-support, a catch on the rockshaft, and means for operating thelatch connected with the latch and a drivers seat, arranged and combinedas shown and described for the purposes stated.

11. In acorn-planter, aseed-conveyer fixed under a seedbox, a valvepivoted in the conveyer, an arm extending from the valve and a weight onthe end of the arm for retaining the valve normally in a closedposition, as shown and described.

'12. In a corn-planter, a seed-conveyer fixed undera seed-box, a valvepivoted in the conveyer, an arm extending from the valve and a weight onthe end of the arm for retaining the valve normally in a closedposition, a rotatable shaft extended through the top of the conveyer andcams on the shaft to engage the top of the valve, arranged and combinedas shown and described.

LEROY J. LINDSAY.

W'itnesses:

F. O. STUART, THOMAS G. Onwre.

ICC

